AIMS Google DeepMind AI for Science Scholarship
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with Google DeepMind
The AIMS Google DeepMind Scholarship is a fully residential one-year Master's programme at AIMS South Africa in Cape Town, training African students in AI for Science - combining artificial intelligence and machine learning with real scientific research problems. Google DeepMind committed to funding 40 scholars a year for four years from September 2023.
- Amount
- Fully funded Master's (tuition + accommodation + living expenses + medical insurance + flights)
- Deadline
- To be announced
- Duration
- One academic year (Master's degree)
- Renewable
- No
Eligible Fields of Study
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with Google DeepMind supports students in the following disciplines
Eligibility Requirements
- ✓ Citizen of an African country, resident in Africa when applying (unless displaced by war)
- ✓ A four-year undergraduate degree, or a three-year degree plus an honours year, in mathematics, computer science, physics or a related quantitative field (for the 2026 intake, completed by August 2025, or December 2025 for southern African applicants)
- ✓ No previous scholarship to study at an AIMS centre
- ✓ Passionate about mathematics, artificial intelligence and machine learning
- ✓ Able to commit to a fully residential year at AIMS South Africa
- ✓ Strong problem-solving ability (assessed via the online application's mathematics work and coding problem)
What's Included
- ✓ Full tuition fees
- ✓ Accommodation
- ✓ Living expenses
- ✓ Medical insurance
- ✓ Costs for AI experiments and research projects
- ✓ Flights to and from South Africa
- ✓ Mentorship and support from Google DeepMind researchers and engineers
- ✓ Research exposure on real scientific problems
How to Apply
Steps to complete your African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with Google DeepMind bursary application
- 1
Check the AIMS AI for Science site (ai.aims.ac.za) for the next intake - the 2026 round opened on 8 December 2025
- 2
Register on the AIMS application site (apply.aims.ac.za)
- 3
Upload your CV, a motivation letter of around 500 words and your academic transcripts
- 4
Complete the mathematical sciences work and the coding problem provided on the application site (this is not an exam - the panel uses it to see how you approach problems)
- 5
Submit before the single application deadline (11:59pm SAST on 6 March 2026 for the 2026 intake)
- 6
Shortlisted applicants attend a short online interview (May in the 2026 round)
Required Documents
- 📄 Curriculum vitae
- 📄 Motivation letter (around 500 words)
- 📄 Academic transcripts (final-year students can submit current transcripts)
- 📄 Representative examples of your mathematical sciences work (questions on the application site)
- 📄 Coding problem (provided on the application site)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the AIMS Google DeepMind scholarship?
- A fully funded, one-year Master's programme at AIMS South Africa in Cape Town, run in partnership with Google DeepMind and focused on AI for Science - using artificial intelligence and machine learning to solve real scientific problems.
- Who can apply for the AIMS Google DeepMind scholarship?
- Citizens of African countries living in Africa (unless displaced by war) with a four-year degree, or a three-year degree plus honours, in mathematics, computer science, physics or a related quantitative field, who have not previously held a scholarship to study at an AIMS centre.
- What does the AIMS Google DeepMind scholarship cover?
- Tuition, accommodation, living expenses, medical insurance, the cost of AI experiments and research, and flights to and from South Africa.
- Is there a 2027 intake?
- Not announced yet. The September 2026 cohort (applications closed on 6 March 2026) is the fourth intake under Google DeepMind's commitment of 40 scholars a year for four years from September 2023. AIMS had not published 2027 dates as of 12 October 2026, so check ai.aims.ac.za for news.
When do 2027 applications open?
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with Google DeepMind has not yet announced dates for the 2027 intake.
Applications for the September 2026 cohort opened on 8 December 2025 and closed at 11:59pm SAST on 6 March 2026, with short online interviews in May 2026. Google DeepMind's funding was announced for 40 scholars a year for four years from September 2023, and the September 2026 cohort is the programme's fourth; AIMS had not announced a 2027 intake as of 12 October 2026.
Check African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with Google DeepMind's official siteInformation verified 2026-10-12. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.
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